Binh Dinh: More ways to preserve Ha Ri brocade weaving

Bana Kriem artisans in Ha Ri village preserve their ethnic group's traditional brocade weaving craft. Photo: Phuoc Ngoc.

Try to preserve

Ha Ri brocade weaving has existed for a long time, preserved and passed down through many generations. Currently, the whole village has 36 households following the profession. Ha Ri textiles have many products, but the most familiar are men's shirts, men's loincloths, women's shirts, women's skirts... mainly used in cultural and artistic performances (dance, singing, traditional festivals).

Ms. Dinh Thi Choai - one of the experienced people in the profession said that brocade weaving goes through many different stages such as spinning, dyeing, and hand weaving.

These stages require dedication, patience, meticulousness, and elaboration. Sometimes it takes half a month to create a complete, satisfactory product.

According to Ms. Choai, the brocade weaving technique of the Bana Kriem people is quite similar to that of some other ethnic groups such as the Cham and H're. However, in terms of patterns and decorative motifs, there are many differences.

The difference lies in the fact that the Bana brocade uses many geometric patterns with straight lines, curves, and triangles. The patterns are often tiny overlapping patterns that form a complex strip around a main decorative pattern, an eight-pointed star woven on a white background.

Ms. Choai added that the Bana people choose black as the main color in their brocade costumes, combined with red, white and a little yellow and light green, which looks quite impressive and strong thanks to the high contrast.

Artisans are required to have outstanding imagination and creativity. Therefore, textile products are not simply everyday items but contain deep within them a unique identity, a philosophy of life, a world view, a meaningful story about the culture and customs of the Bana Kriêm people.

However, with the rapid development of modern society, Ha Ri brocade weaving is facing many difficulties and challenges, even at risk of fading away and being lost. This reality makes people like Ms. Choai ache, determined to find every way to preserve the craft.

Following the sound of the loom, we came to Mrs. Dinh Thi Duoi's house, where she was weaving brocade after returning from work in the fields. Mrs. Duoi confided that even if the products she made could not be sold, she still had to do it, because with her intense love and passion, we could not turn a blind eye, requiring us to think of specific directions and actions to contribute to maintaining, preserving and promoting the traditional craft.

“I am willing to “hold hands and show them how to do things” so that young people in the village can understand the profession. From there, we can create a team of successors, and together we can revive the craft village our ancestors left behind,” Ms. Duoi said.

New opportunities for craft villages

In late March, the people of Ha Ri village were happier than ever when they heard that the traditional brocade weaving craft was recognized by the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province as meeting craft village standards.

From now on, Ha Ri brocade weaving will enjoy support policies according to Decision No. 40/2019/QD-UBND of the Provincial People's Committee promulgating regulations on policies to support the development of craft villages and rural industries in the province for the period 2019-2025 and related policies. This is like a new "breath of life", an important stepping stone to help the craft village stand firm in the face of the times, major changes in the market and consumer demand.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tu - Vice Chairman of Vinh Hiep Commune People's Committee shared that the recognition of the craft village will help households practice the craft more securely, have more motivation to stick with it, and gradually improve the quality and economic value of brocade weaving products.

The local government is committed to accompanying in promoting and finding markets; at the same time, linking craft villages with tourism development, creating a stable source of income, improving the lives of people in the surrounding area.

Vice Chairman of Vinh Thanh District People's Committee Le Minh Thong said that, implementing the action program of the Provincial Party Committee and the plan of the Provincial People's Committee, the district has synchronously deployed many effective solutions related to the work of preserving and developing traditional craft villages in the district.

Along with the proposal to recognize the traditional craft village, the district has also developed and completed the Project to preserve and develop this craft village. Currently, the Project is being appraised by competent authorities to submit to the Provincial People's Committee for approval. The highlight of the Project is the emphasis on preserving the long-standing historical values ​​of the craft village, training policies for ethnic minorities, etc.

Ms. Huynh Thi Anh Thao - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Binh Dinh province assessed that it can be said that this is an honor and pride for the Bana Kriem people. From the recognition of the craft village, the locality will receive attention and support to invest in building a systematic infrastructure. Not only that, artisans and practitioners will have the opportunity to participate in teaching activities and practice professional secrets related to brocade weaving.

Ms. Huynh Thi Anh Thao added that in recent times, the Department has coordinated with relevant departments, sectors, and the People's Committee of Vinh Thanh district to carry out many special activities such as organizing brocade weaving classes for local people and students; establishing brocade weaving clubs; building a number of multi-purpose houses - both a place for people to practice their profession and a place to exchange, promote and sell brocade weaving products to tourists. The Department also aims to speed up the progress of inventorying intangible cultural heritage of ethnic minorities in the province; including the brocade weaving of the Bana Kriem people in Vinh Thanh district.

After the inventory, the Department will review and select a number of typical intangible cultural heritages to propose to the provincial leaders to develop a scientific dossier and submit it to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for inclusion in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritages," said Ms. Thao.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/binh-dinh-them-cach-gin-giu-nghe-det-tho-cam-ha-ri-20250325082657332.htm